Part Fifty-One

"Take my life, Elrond," the Elvenking said quietly.

He knelt before the Lord of Imladris and offered Elrond his sword. He knew, at least, that his lover would remove his head cleanly, in one blow, and he would not suffer for long.

"Father, no!" he heard Legolas cry.

Thranduil kept his head bowed. If he looked at his son now, he would show a sign of weakness. He only hoped that Haldir would continue to protect Legolas after he was gone. He knew that the elf of the Galadhrim was holding Legolas back now, preventing him from running forward. He hoped Legolas knew how much he loved him, and that he was doing this for him, and for Elrond as well.

Elrond could have asked for Legolas' life in exchange for Elladan's but Thranduil would give his own before he would permit that. Hopefully Elrond realized that this was his fault and not that of the young Prince. Hopefully there would not be a war between Imladris and Mirkwood. He wished he had had more time to instruct Haldir in how to get his son out of there.

There was no time for anything. Legolas, Elrohir and the three elves of the Galadhrim had returned to the palace bearing the shredded clothing of the three elves who had been deserted in the wood, and telling tales of slicing hundreds of baby spiders to death. The five of them were exhausted and bloody, and Elrohir seemed to have gone mad with grief. He was unable to speak. They stood together now with the King, Lord Elrond, Erestor and Silindë in the throne room.

Thranduil had only very small regrets for the death of Glorfindel, who had meant to suffer this fate if the Valar willed it. He did, however, feel immensely guilty about Saelbeth and most especially Elladan. He could not even imagine losing Legolas in such a callous way. He should never have left the pair of them to help Glorfindel. And he had thought that the War Councilor was getting off lightly.

Elrond took the sword in his hand and Thranduil kept his head bent. He did not want to see the accusing look that must be in his lover's eyes. He did not want to see Elrond cold and angry. He would carry with him in his heart the memory of Elrond smiling, or breathless in passion. Thranduil concentrated on that and waited for Elrond to deliver the blow.

"You are serious," Elrond said slowly, lifting the weapon.

"Yes," said Thranduil. "I will not ask your forgiveness, only that you spare Legolas."

"Thranduil-"

"If Legolas is honorable, he will obey my dying wish that he wed Lady Arwen." Thranduil heard Legolas gasp, and Haldir murmur to him.

"Thranduil-"

"My lord, surely you do not mean to execute the Elvenking," Erestor said softly.

"Erestor-"

"After all, the punishment was agreed to by all present at the trial of Lord Glorfindel, and while the death of Elladan is unfortunate, this act will only precipitate a war."

"Erestor-"

"There will be no war," said Thranduil, hoping he was correct. "Lord Elrond has ever been just and knows that my life is adequate payment for what he has lost."

"Will both of you please listen to me?" Elrond said with exasperation.

He threw the sword down onto the store floor, where it clattered uproariously and skittered to a halt at Legolas' feet. Thranduil saw his son bend over and retrieve it. Finally he lifted his head, afraid of what he would see in Elrond's face. Thranduil had never felt like this before, afraid that someone would not love him. He had never needed anyone to love him… until now.

Elrond put his hand on Thranduil's face. He looked at the Elvenking with fathomless grey eyes. Thranduil saw no hatred nor even any anger in his expression. He blinked, feeling a lump form in the back of his throat, barely understanding what that meant.

"Elrond..."

"Shhhh. Stand up, Thranduil. If I have not killed you already, I am certainly not going to. Not now. Especially not now."

Slowly Thranduil got to his feet. He was taller than Elrond, and looked down into his eyes now, but said nothing. The warmth of Elrond's fingers on his face made his heart beat faster. He wanted to kiss the Lord of Imladris desperately, but Thranduil, King of the Elves of Northern Mirkwood, had always been about self-control.

"What would you have of me, then, as payment?"

"There is no price I could put on Elladan's life," Elrond said slowly. "Not another life. I will not shed blood in his name. I will not blame you for this."

"It is my fault!" Thranduil insisted.

"I never thought it would come to this, or I would have stopped you."

"How could you have?"

"Thranduil, I do not believe Elladan is dead. Or Glorfindel, or Saelbeth. Until we have some proof..."

"But we found their clothing!" said Orophin.

"And there were spiders," Rúmil added, trembling.

"There was no sign of them, no way they could have escaped," said Legolas.

"They had no weapons," said Haldir.

"I think all of you are underestimating Lord Glorfindel," Elrond said.

"Where could they be, then?" Thranduil asked incredulously. Was Elrond's misplaced faith all that was keeping him alive? No. Elrond loved him. He was sure of that now. It was evident in his selflessness, in the way that he looked at Thranduil.

"Galadriel will know," Elrond said. "Let us leave for Lothlórien at once. She will use all her power to find her grand-child."

"Father," Elrohir said in a hoarse voice. "Dare we hope?"

Elrond strode forward to embrace the remaining twin, holding his son tightly, silently reassuring him that they would find his brother. Thranduil had never been so proud of Elrond, or admired him so greatly as he did in this moment. As if he was stirred by this scene, Legolas pushed free of Haldir and flung himself around Thranduil. Thranduil enfolded the boy in his arms and stroked Legolas' sun-colored hair.

"I thought I would lose you, Father," he whispered.

"Even in death, I will never be far away from you for long, my Legolas," Thranduil said. "I will always watch over you, no matter the distance." He paused. "Will you marry Arwen?"

"If she will marry me," Legolas said.

Thranduil looked over at Haldir, but his expression was inscrutable. The last thing the Elvenking wanted was to break his son away from his lover. He would insist to Galadriel that Haldir be given to Legolas as a wedding gift. She could find another Marchwarden, and the icy elf of the Galadhrim could go with Legolas to Imladris.

He would speak to Haldir later, he decided.

"We will leave for Lórien on the morrow, then," said Thranduil, letting go of Legolas. He gave his son a little push back in Haldir's direction. Elrohir slowly let go of his father and slipped back over to Orophin, who put his arms around the twin supportively. Thranduil looked at Elrond, who nodded.

"It is agreed."

The other elves turned and left, knowing they were dismissed, leaving Thranduil and Elrond alone together.

"Why did you offer your life?" Elrond asked softly, crossing to Thranduil and putting his hands on the Elvenking's hips.

"Because I love you, and I have nothing of greater value to give except my son. I willingly offer him to Arwen, and as you see he is amenable if the girl agrees."

Elrond nodded slowly. "Let us worry about that after we speak with Galadriel."